Online Tools Help Share Italian Leather-Crafting Tradition Worldwide

A veteran of the high-end leather furniture industry, Luca Ricci found himself disappointed by the quality of many luxury consumer brands’ leather goods. Sensing an opportunity, in 2017, he launched his own leather goods business, The Dust Company. Handcrafted by a team of eight Italian artisans and featuring classic designs and colors, the Dust Company’s bags, backpacks, belts, and wallets are made to improve with age.

Today, The Dust Company — jointly headquartered in Italy and Wyoming — uses a range of methods to sell its moderately priced luxury leather accessories to discerning customers worldwide. For example, The Dust Company relies on its Shopify website for direct-to-consumer sales, taking advantage of the platform’s low overhead and highly customizable tools and features. “In our Shopify store, we control our brand, and avoid high fees and commissions,” Luca says. “That allows us to build our brand identity — and boost our margins.”

In addition to its online store, The Dust Company has a presence in the Etsy online marketplace and recently began selling on the Target+ marketplace. Luca also works with leading retailers and wholesaler Faire.com, to reach customers worldwide. In Europe, the company’s products are available at fashion-forward retailers including Spartoo (France), The Clothing Lounge (U.K.), IVALO (Finland), Skroutz (Greece), Barroco Italia, and Attavant (Italy). Luca builds brand awareness and engages with customers, on Instagram and through social shopping platforms FashWire and FLIP.

Online tools and marketplaces, paired with social media, allow The Dust Company’s 12 employees to share Italy’s great leather-crafting tradition with customers around the world, while also paying close attention to customers’ needs. “Our ability to produce beautiful handcrafted leather goods and offer personalized customer service is a direct result of the value we get from digital tools,” Luca says.